Ethan Thoren

Freelance Travel Writer, Travel Lemming

Ethan Thoren is a freelance writer who was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida. He still resides in Jacksonville with his fiancée and his four cats: Buttercup, Westley, Merry, and Pippin. Ethan enjoys traveling and sightseeing the southern United States when he has free time. Aside from exploring his home state, he loves reading and writing, and aspires to be a fiction author.

🏠 Local to: Jacksonville, Florida

🌟 Favorite Destinations: Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina

✔️ Fun Facts: Has 4 cats (so far). Owns 300+ books.

Meet Ethan

Ethan Thoren with his fiancée Olivia smiling for a photo in Clarkesville, Tennessee — Ethan and his fiancée Olivia in Clarkesville, Tennessee

Ethan Thoren smiling for a photo in Tillie Park in Jacksonville, Florida — Tillie Park in Jacksonville, Florida

Ethan Thoren smiling for a photo at the Cummer Museum and Gardens, Jacksonville, FL — The Cummer Museum and Gardens, Jacksonville, FL

Ethan Thoren with his fiancée enjoying their day in Piedmont Park — Ethan and his fiancée in Piedmont Park

📚 What was Your Favorite Travel Experience or Story?

My fiancée and I visited some of her family in Tennessee in Christmas of 2021. Just about everything went wrong on the way: Work ran late, so we didn’t start the nine-hour drive until almost two in the afternoon. The traffic was awful. The moment we finally arrived, a light came on and we had to spend $500+ on fixing her brakes while in Clarkesville.

But we forgot all of that the next morning. We bought a Christmas tree with her father. We explored the lights and decorations at the Gaylord Hotel. We saw the Christmas-themed She & Him concert at the Ryman in Nashville. Everything went so well that, for once, I wasn’t remotely stressed about the things that went wrong. And the drive home was a breeze, thankfully!

🗺️ What’s Your #1 Expert Travel Tip?

Don’t go somewhere new and do the same old stuff. Branch out. Do things that maybe make you a little nervous or that you’ve thought about doing before but chickened out. Sometimes taking a leap of faith can make an experience a million times more special.